Princess S65
| LOA | 20.61 m |
|---|---|
| Beam | 5.09 m |
| Engines | Twin MAN V12-1400 (1,400 hp each) |
| Fuel capacity | 4,100 litres |
| Accommodation | 4 cabins, up to 8 guests, optional crew cabin |
| Sportbridge | versatile seating with movable backrest converting to a forward sunbed |
| Profile | streamlined sports styling with graphic detailing |
| Class | S Class sportbridge |
Where sports yacht meets flybridge
The S65 sits at the smaller end of the S Class, the range that fuses a low, sporting profile with a compact upper deck Princess calls a sportbridge. At 20.61 metres it delivers the sleek looks of a V Class boat with the added social space of a flybridge above. Four cabins and berths for eight make it a genuine family cruiser for a week aboard. It suits owners who want performance and style without giving up an outdoor helm and lounge. For many it is the most versatile boat in the class, quick to drive and easy to live on.
The sportbridge is lower and more streamlined than a full flybridge, keeping the fast lines that draw people to the S Class. The result is a boat that looks quick at rest and cruises with spirit when the throttles go down. It can be run with light crew on longer trips or by a confident owner for coastal hops. The extra deck adds room without spoiling the profile. The S65 packs a great deal of capability into an agile hull.
Sleek lines and a versatile deck
The S65 wears a streamlined profile with graphic styling and a low, glazed superstructure that reads fast across a marina. The sportbridge carries versatile seating with a movable backrest that converts into a forward sunbed, complete with stowage beneath. An outdoor helm and dining area sit up top for driving and relaxing high above the water. The cockpit below connects to a broad bathing platform for swimming and water toys. It is an arrangement that gives guests two distinct spaces to spread out.
Long hull windows and a raked screen give the boat its sporting stance. A sunroof and glazing keep the main helm sheltered while preserving the view forward. The foredeck adds a further lounging area for quiet mornings away from the aft deck. Teak underfoot and clean stainless detailing lift the sense of quality. Clean lines run across every surface in the Princess manner.
Sports-yacht lines, a convertible sportbridge and MAN V12 pace make the S65 the agile end of the S Class.
Four cabins beneath a sporting hull
Below decks the S65 offers four cabins and berths for up to eight guests, with an optional crew cabin for owners who want help aboard. The full-beam master sits amidships with the calmest motion, a VIP takes the bow, and further cabins handle family or guests. Large windows fill the saloon and cabins with daylight, keeping the interior bright despite the low profile above. The galley is set up for real cooking on longer trips. It is a layout that turns a sporting boat into a proper holiday yacht.
Interiors use the current Princess palette of pale timbers, soft leathers and quality fittings. Volume and light make the lower deck feel open and calm at anchor. Stowage is generous for a week aboard, from wardrobes to galley lockers. The ensuite master gives the owners privacy from guests forward. The saloon opens to the cockpit for easy indoor-outdoor living.
MAN V12 performance
The S65 is powered by twin MAN V12-1400 engines rated at 1,400 hp each, giving it the pace to match its looks. The hull stays composed at speed and dry through a chop, so fast passages stay comfortable. Handling is precise and confident at the helm, with joystick control easing close-quarters work. Trim adjustment lets the owner set the ride to the sea. This is a boat that cruises fast and settles quickly at anchor.
A 4,100 litre fuel tank supports coastal cruising and longer passages between anchorages. The powertrain is tuned for spirited yet comfortable running. Engine access supports routine servicing and daily checks. The V12s carry the boat's speed without drama. The S65 delivers the performance its sporting billing promises.
Who the S65 is for
The S65 suits the owner who wants the looks and pace of a sports yacht with the extra deck and space of a flybridge. Four cabins make it a real family cruiser, while the streamlined profile keeps it quick and stylish at the dock. It appeals to buyers who find a full flybridge too tall but want more than a sports yacht offers below. Owners who value versatility will use every part of the boat across a season.
It also draws those stepping up from a V Class who want an upper deck without losing the sporting line they love. The S65 can be run with light crew or by a confident owner. Its blend of speed and space makes it a strong all-rounder for a coastal family. For the buyer who wants speed, style and a flybridge in one compact hull, it is a strong choice.
Engines and systems
| Standard engines | Twin MAN V12-1400 (2 x 1,400hp) diesels, per Princess Yachts official spec and confirmed by MBY and Power and Motoryacht sea trials. |
|---|---|
| Alternative engines | Twin MAN V8-1200 (2 x 1,200hp) - saves roughly 800kg, costs about 2 knots of top speed, per MBY's October 2024 sea trial. Gen 1 (2015-19) also offered twin Caterpillar C18 units at 1,150hp each, per MBY's original 2015 review. |
| Gearboxes | Not disclosed by name in any source reviewed - Princess spec pages and both MBY sea trials omit gearbox make and model, so this is left unconfirmed rather than guessed. |
| Generator | Onan 19-19.5kW genset, reported consistently across brokerage and dealer spec listings. MBY's 2024 test noted the genset sits in the engine bay itself and suggested Princess relocate it to the separate engineering space to cut heat soak - not independently verified beyond that one review. |
| Stabilisers | Seakeeper gyro stabilisation (reported as NG9 on some listings, Seakeeper 18 on others, likely reflecting different build years) rather than fin stabilisers - confirmed by MBY's 2024 review and multiple brokerage spec sheets. |
| Bow and stern thrusters | Variable-speed bow and stern thrusters fitted as standard (Side-Power per brokerage listings); not itemised by make in Princess's own spec page or the MBY reviews, so treat the make as secondary-source only. |
| Fuel tankage | 4,100 litres (902 imp. gal / 1,083 US gal) standard, confirmed by Princess Yachts' own spec page, MBY (2015 and 2024 reviews) and Power and Motoryacht. An extended-range option adds 300L for 4,400L total, per Princess's spec page. |
| Water tankage | 802 litres (176 imp. gal / 212 US gal), confirmed by Princess's spec page, MBY's 2024 review and Power and Motoryacht. MBY's original 2015 review cited 873L for the first-generation boat - flagged as a possible Gen 1 vs Gen 2 difference, not resolved to a single number. |
| Cruising range | Approximately 300 nautical miles at a cruise speed in the high 20s (around 29 knots), consistent across Power and Motoryacht's 2025 review and aggregated spec data; not independently re-measured by MBY, whose reviews describe cruise behaviour but do not restate a range figure. |
| Cruise speed | Around 29-30 knots, per Power and Motoryacht and Princess's own marketing copy; MBY describes cruising 'just over 30 knots' on its 2015 test. |
| Top speed | Reported between 34 and 37 knots depending on source, generation and engine option: Princess's own spec sheet says 34-36 knots (V12); MBY's 2015 test of a Gen 1 V12 boat hit 37 knots; MBY's October 2024 test of the current Gen 2 V12 boat recorded almost 35 knots; Power and Motoryacht's 2025 test of the Gen 2 boat recorded 36 knots. Genuinely conflicting across three independent outlets, so reported as a range rather than a single figure. |
What owners and crew report
No attributable owner-forum or named-dealer commentary found
Targeted searches for Princess S65 owner reports on owner forums and reader sections of the yachting press did not surface any specific, attributable owner quotes, and no named person at a dealership was found commenting on the S65 specifically - only sales contact details and listing copy. Reported as an open gap rather than filled with invented material.
Yotters research desk
What is good, and what to watch
Strong points
- Striking, sporty profileMBY's 2015 review called it one of the most desirable profiles to come out of the Plymouth yard, sleek and poised with far more visual impact than Princess's range of regular flybridges - a view echoed by Power and Motoryacht's 2025 review of the redesigned Gen 2 boat.
- Strong performance and mid-range gruntMBY's October 2024 sea trial noted the V12 boat pushes through the rev band fast, with sharp, responsive handling and a tight turning radius of about three boat lengths.
- Excellent helm sightlinesPower and Motoryacht's 2025 review specifically praised helm seating positioned at the correct height for window visibility, calling it a hallmark of thoughtful design; MBY's earlier review separately noted good forward views even from a seated position, unusual on a sportsbridge cruiser.
- Well-integrated indoor and outdoor livingThe compact sportsbridge, rather than a full flybridge, allows a large three-panel glazed sunroof over the saloon and lower helm; MBY's 2024 review specifically called out strong brightness and ventilation in the saloon as a result of this trade-off.
- Quality accommodation for the sizeFour staterooms sleeping eight, including a full-beam master with large hull windows; MBY's 2015 review called the master suite excellent, and a 2024 YachtBuyer review separately praised quality stainless and woodwork detailing throughout.
What to watch
- Small flybridge for the classConsistently the most-repeated criticism: MBY's 2015 review flagged a small flybridge directly as a con; MBY's 2024 review and a 2024 YachtBuyer review both note it is noticeably smaller than the flybridge on Princess's own F65, trading topside space for the saloon sunroof - a genuine trade-off, not universally framed as a flaw, but repeatedly singled out.
- Tight crew cabinMBY's 2015 review called the crew cabin pokey, and a 2024 YachtBuyer review similarly described the crew space as suitable only for short-term accommodation rather than a full-time berth.
- Limited forward visibility from lounge seatingMBY's October 2024 sea trial specifically criticised that only two main-deck seats have forward visibility underway, limiting who gets a view while the boat is running.
- Generator placement causes engine-bay heatMBY's 2024 review noted the standard generator installation sits in the main engine bay itself rather than a separate space, and suggested Princess relocate it to cut unnecessary heat soak - a specific, named engineering criticism rather than a vague complaint.
- Tender garage constrains the engine roomA 2024 YachtBuyer review noted the engine room is constrained by the integrated tender garage above and alongside it, though it credited Princess with organising the space well despite the constraint.
Practical detail
| New price (Gen 1, 2015 launch) | GBP 1,984,308 including UK VAT, per MBY's original October 2015 review. |
|---|---|
| New price (Gen 2, current model) | GBP 3,852,000 ex VAT (as-tested configuration), per MBY's October 2024 sea trial; Power and Motoryacht's 2025 review cites the as-tested price at $5.4 million. UK VAT (20%), delivery and commissioning, and options (extended fuel range, crew cabin, teak decking, entertainment upgrades) are additional on top of the base ex-VAT figure. |
| Used and resale pricing | First-generation (2015-2019) boats are trading roughly $1.75m-$2.2m depending on condition and year, per aggregated brokerage listings; the 2024 Gen 2 launch has pushed Gen 1 asking prices down as buyers shift to the new model. |
| Running and berthing cost notes | No published running-cost or berthing-cost figures were found from Princess or the sea-trial outlets reviewed - none of MBY, Power and Motoryacht, or Princess's own materials quote annual running costs, so this should not be stated as a hard number. |
| Dealer network and how to buy | Sold through Princess's own regional dealer network rather than direct factory sale: named dealers found in sourcing include Princess Motor Yacht Sales (UK) and SI Yachts (US East Coast). TWW Yachts and Romeo United Yachts appear as independent brokers handling resale rather than authorised new-boat dealers. |
| Comparable and nearby models | Most directly compared by Princess itself and by reviewers to the smaller Princess V65/S66 and the larger Princess S72, and cross-shopped against the Sunseeker 65 Sport Yacht, Azimut S6, and the faster, more overtly sporty Pershing 6X. |
| Used-boat checks | No S65-specific pre-purchase checklist was published by any source reviewed. General inference from the equipment list points toward the usual sportbridge checks: engine hours and service history on the MAN diesels, Seakeeper service records, sunroof and glazing seals given the large three-panel saloon roof, and genset hours given MBY's engine-bay heat-soak note above. |
Questions owners ask
How big is the Princess Princess S65?
LOA: 20.61 m. Beam: 5.09 m.
Who is the Princess Princess S65 for?
The owner who wants sports-yacht looks and pace with the added deck of a flybridge and four cabins for the family, in a compact, agile hull.
What is the Princess Princess S65 good at?
Striking, sporty profile. MBY's 2015 review called it one of the most desirable profiles to come out of the Plymouth yard, sleek and poised with far more visual impact than Princess's range of regular flybridges - a view echoed by Power and Motoryacht's 2025 review of the redesigned Gen 2 boat.
What are the drawbacks of the Princess Princess S65?
Small flybridge for the class. Consistently the most-repeated criticism: MBY's 2015 review flagged a small flybridge directly as a con; MBY's 2024 review and a 2024 YachtBuyer review both note it is noticeably smaller than the flybridge on Princess's own F65, trading topside space for the saloon sunroof - a genuine trade-off, not universally framed as a flaw, but repeatedly singled out.
What do owners and crew report about the Princess Princess S65?
Targeted searches for Princess S65 owner reports on owner forums and reader sections of the yachting press did not surface any specific, attributable owner quotes, and no named person at a dealership was found commenting on the S65 specifically - only sales contact details and listing copy. Reported as an open gap rather than filled with invented material. (Yotters research desk)
Who it is for: The owner who wants sports-yacht looks and pace with the added deck of a flybridge and four cabins for the family, in a compact, agile hull.